Derbyshire Vineyard

San Simeon

Over looking the sea, set against windswept vistas, zebra-trodden hillsides and adjacent to the Hearst Ranch, Derbyshire Vineyard is both a marvel of modern viticulture and a throwback to the days of farming at the whim of Mother Nature. Of his decision to engage in “extreme farming” in the closest commercial vineyard to the Pacific Ocean, owner Ray Derby says, “I’m either a pioneer or a fool.”

Steve Vierra declares, “What we once saw as limitations, we now see as Derbyshire’s greatest assets.” With just under 2,000 growing degree days (Champagne averages 2,060 and Burgundy 2,400), Derbyshire presents constant challenges but its unusual location has shaped the complex and distinctive flavor profile of the Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.